Heidi Ryder Photography: The Blog » engagement

Kathleen + Ryan = Engaged!

Heidi — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:18:22 +0000

Kathleen and Ryan are just the cutest. I didn’t meet them in person until their engagement session and I understood almost immediately that Ryan is sarcastic and funny and sets out to embarrass Kathleen every chance he gets, which is normally met with an eye roll or a playful slap on the arm. It was so cute to watch and reminded me of my daily interactions with Chris, so I felt comfortable with these two right away.

These two are life-long Angels fans and Kathleen’s dad works in the press box at Angels Stadium, so it was fitting that we’d start their session there since many of their summer evenings are spent taking in home games together. It was so awesome to wander around the empty stadium and run around the outfield. The fact that these two are so cute together made my job easy and it hardly felt like work!

After the stadium we headed to a nearby park where we got some of my favorite shots. This shoot got me so excited for their wedding at the Richard Nixon Library in July. Can’t wait!

Marianne + Scott = Engaged!

Heidi — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:49:49 +0000

When I met with Marianne and Scott for their initial consult, they weren’t sure they were interested in an engagement session. This happens from time to time and I don’t pressure my couples, but so far everyone who said they didn’t want one changed their mind at some point before the wedding and Marianne and Scott are no exception! I’m so glad, too, because I had so much fun getting to know these two better and reliving the first night they met!

It was at a New York Dolls show at The Fonda Theatre. Marianne caught Scott’s eye and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He decided to go up and talk to her and after the show they decided to get a drink at the nearby Frolic Room, along with the friends they came to the show with. The rest is, as they say, history! It was awesome to hear this story from them while re-tracing their footsteps. I love that stuff!

Marianne and Scott, thanks for hanging out with me – can’t wait for your wedding next month!

Adria + Mike = Engaged!

Heidi — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:12:05 +0000

Adria and Mike are two smarty-pants astronomer/astrophysicists/genius types who understand things my pea-sized brain will never comprehend. So, it was fitting that their engagement session take place at the Griffith Observatory. It’s not the first time I’ve shot there, but it was the first time I learned some things while shooting there! I guess it’s true – you never stop learning.

This cute couple also spends a lot of time hiking outdoors together so we spent some time along the trails surrounding the observatory. It was a pretty hazy day, which changed the quality of light into something sort of ethereal. Obviously, I was pleased about this. Adria and Mike, thanks so much for spending the afternoon with me! I had a great time and can’t wait for your wedding day!

Erin + Tony = Engaged!

Heidi — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:44:18 +0000

Tony and Erin booked me over the phone so we didn’t actually meet until their engagement session. Whenever this happens I’m usually a little nervous before the shoot because I don’t know what to expect. I wasn’t nervous this time though because I’d exchanged enough emails and phone calls with Erin and Tony that I already knew they were both really nice. I felt like Erin and I were old friends because her emails were full of funny little jokes and emoticons that always made me smile.

So when I showed up to the Planes of Fame museum I didn’t feel like I was meeting strangers at all. And these were two particularly good looking non-strangers, so that was a plus! Tony love, love, LOVES planes, so this location was a special treat for him. He knew just about everything about just about every plane in the museum (at least that’s what it felt like to me, who knows one thing about planes: they can fly) and it was really fun to see the museum through his eyes. Erin wanted to make sure Tony was getting the photos he wanted and was so laid back about everything, I loved her for it!

These two are getting married in less than a month and I can’t wait for their wedding day. Thanks for hanging out with me, Erin and Tony!

Mimi + Greg = Engaged!

Heidi — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:22:15 +0000

I got to spend the afternoon with this beautiful couple at the South Coast Botanic Gardens. It was my first time there, and it was just lovely! During the entire shoot I kept doing my ‘happy photographer’ dance because these two are just so cute together, and quite comfortable in front of the camera. They practically did my job for me! After some time at at the gardens we hit the beach for some VERY cold beach time. You’d never know how freezing it was there by looking at these photos, though. Mimi and Greg are pros.

Thanks, guys, for spending the afternoon with me. Seriously cannot wait for your wedding!

Janice + Almon = Engaged!

Heidi — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:15:15 +0000

Janice and Almon are just the cutest. They’re super sweet and cool and I had so much fun hanging out with them in Silverlake and Griffith Park for their engagement session. When we were planning their session, Almon wanted something colorful and a little urban, while Janice envisioned awesome textures and a classic Los Angeles setting like the Griffith Observatory. One of the things I love about shooting in Los Angeles is you can get all of that, and more, very easily! I don’t appreciate it often, but sometimes I realize that LA is pretty rad.

This session was super fun to shoot and I have to commend Janice and Almon on styling themselves so well! Their outfits were perfectly coordinated without being matchy-matchy at all and each outfit was appropriate for the location. Perfect! Janice and Almon, thanks for being so fun to photograph – I can’t wait for your wedding day!

Joey + Andrew, Part Two!

Heidi — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:11:35 +0000

Here’s part two from Joey and Andrew’s engagement session. A much different feel from part one, but just as fun!

Joey + Andrew = Engaged!

Heidi — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:25:40 +0000

It’s Valentine’s Day! Even though my life seemingly revolves around weddings and all things love, I don’t really put a lot of thought into this holiday. It’s a good excuse to go out for a nice meal or to a movie with my sweetheart, but we don’t go overboard with gifts of flowers or candy. But! It’s a holiday centered around love, so it’s still a pretty awesome holiday, I think! For those of my clients who are celebrating their first Valentine’s Day as husband and wife: Happy Valentine’s Day! That’s worth celebrating.

And, what better way to celebrate love than to post some pretty photos of two people in love? Meet Joey and Andrew. They’re a super cute couple who make a really good team. I’m going to blog their session in two parts because the feel of this half of their shoot is very different than the feel of the other half, and this half has glitter confetti, so it’s totally appropriate for the holiday. Obviously.

We hung out Downtown near their favorite sandwich shop and threw glitter bombs in an alley. It was probably one of the more awesome things I’ve witnessed in an alley. This half of the shoot was actually the last half and we were running a little late so it was darker out than I had planned for, but I really love the moody light that only dusk can provide. Sometimes soaking in every last bit of light out of a day can provide excellent results.

Thanks for hanging out with me, Joey and Andrew! Part 2 coming up later this week!

Can we talk about how much I love Joey’s shoes? Seriously. Love!

Thanks For A Great 2011!

Heidi — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:39:42 +0000

When I think about this past year, I start to get pretty emotional. Calling it amazing would be a serious understatement. I’ve been privileged enough to be a part of many amazing weddings this year and have gotten to know the best couples whom I proudly consider friends. This job just keeps getting better and better, and it’s because of my wonderful clients that this is so.

I hope you all are reading this and know how much I appreciate you and how grateful I am to have been included in your wedding days. I look forward to capturing many more of life’s amazing moments for you in the years to come!

I’ve put together a slideshow of some of my favorite images from the past year’s weddings and engagement sessions. Hope you enjoy.

Happy New Year! Here’s to a great 2012…

Emily + Perry = Engaged!

Heidi — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:23:16 +0000

Life is unexpected. We all know this. But Emily and Perry had an extra dose of the unexpected a few months ago when they where hit by a drunk driver while riding their motorcycle. It was a terrible accident that left both Emily and Perry in the hospital. They’re both lucky to be alive, but the fact is even the worst type of unexpected that life threw at them could not derail their love and commitment to each other.

I’ve actually known Emily since she was super young. She’s my best friend’s little cousin so this shoot was kind of surreal to me! It was beautiful to see the two of them together, so full of love for each other. I’m so happy these two found each other and that they’re safe, healthy and together.

Congratulations, Emily and Perry!